Finally, we’ve had some proper rain. Enough rain fell Tuesday night and Wednesday morning to nearly fill the water butts and the plants look much happier. I’ve spent most of this weeks gardening time getting things ready to go away for a few days. What sort of gardener goes away in April and again in May? Madness! *
- Although I felt I was quite late potting up the Dahlia tubers they have grown really well and have now been outside for a week hardening off. I’ve pinched them all out and they are mostly ready to plant out into the bed that was dug for them last year

I dug the tubers up last autumn so that I could underplant them with Narcissi, an idea I read about in Sarah Raven’s book. That way the Dahlias can stay in the ground and the bulbs come up through them every spring. There’s just one problem …….

some of the Narcissi are still flowering and there’s no way the foliage can be left for six weeks to die back. Back to the drawing board I think.
- I planted five Allium schubertii in the above bed last year but only three flowered so I added three more in the autumn. Seven have come up but one is blind. The flowers are just starting to open. I’m sure they will be appearing in a Six again soon.

- The Tulips are going over now and the pink and green ‘ China Town’ will be the last but ’Blue Diamond’ fades beautifully, a bit like an old master tulip.

The multi-headed T. ’Royal Georgette’ is a new favourite and as the flowers age more red shows through.

The Melianthus in the background has been cut back as the lower growth was badly frosted. I’ve taken cuttings because I need more plants (haha! Why is it impossible to not take cuttings).
- Spring bulbs are being replaced with early summer ones and the Dutch Iris are starting to open.

- The new growth of Parthenocissus henyrana has been frosted off twice but it’s third time lucky.

- I was going to break with tradition and put a photo of a lovely garden that we visited a couple of weeks ago – Minterne Garden in Dorset – at the top. However, as I’m away I’m writing this on a tablet and it won’t let me set a featured image. Minterne is a Himalayan inspired garden and was full of colour for our visit. The tea and cakes are highly recommended as well.




Thanks for looking at my Six, there’s so many more to see at https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com
* The sort who is enjoying being able to see their family more!
Minterne looks a lovely place to visit. Tea and cakes are as important as the flowers and plants, of course.🙄😉 As you say, the foliage of the narcissi are a pain since we need to wait for ages for the to die away, but they are such a welcome sight in early spring.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I look forward to seeing the allium in its full glory. Is melianthus easy to grow from cutting? What is your process?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I failed with my cuttings last year. I’ve taken more this year and have made them shorter (the stems are almost hollow) and put them in 50/50 compost and perlite in a propagate
LikeLike
Thanks for including the photos of Minterne Garden in Dorset — especially the stream with waterfall. It’s a sight for sore eyes for those of us in a drought! So pretty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marks on the banks show that the water levels were lower than they have been but there was still a reasonable amount flowing
LikeLike
After two years of going nowhere and seeing no-one I do not blame you for getting away, even though it’s not recommended when you have a garden to tend to!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just seeing a photo of a waterfall gives me a sudden feeling of well being. Gorgeous pictures!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
I can see your problem with the dahlias and narcissus. The dahlias are looking good though. The Blue Diamond tulip isn’t one I’ve seen before, but its very nice. I hope you have an enjoyable trip away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I’m having a wonderful time
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do rather love alliums and I’m admiring yours. The main one I have in my garden which grows to about 2m tall has turned out to be a garden thug and I’m having to dig it out. Interesting ones are quite hard to source here and expensive, and the bulbs sell out very quickly. Minterne looks like a delightful place to visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The rhodo on the penultimate photo is superb! This garden must be beautiful. The tulips ‘Blue Diamond’ are still beautiful when they are too open, at least you can enjoy them for a long time.
And finally the dahlias are well developed. I started pinching out mine and have to finish
LikeLiked by 1 person